Means for vaporizing hydrocarbon liquids



Sept 16, 1941. y s. P. JONES 'Y 2,255,747

MEANS FOR vAPoRIzING HYDRocARBoN LIQUIDs Filed Deo, v 24, 1937 2 sneets-sheet- 1 Sept. 16, 1941. s. P. JONES MEANS FOR VAPORIZING HYDROCARBON LIQUIDS 24, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

` 5am 9. Clo/vee Patented Sept. 16, 1941 f MEANS FOR VAPORIZING HYDROCARiBON LIQUIDS Sam P. Jones, Dallas, Tex.

Application December 24, 1937, Serial No. 181,681

. Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in methods o'f and means for Vaporiz-v with the speed of, and load imposed on, the

engine, with the result that more or less vaporization occurs as the load or requirement changes. Such variation in the amount of gas Agenerated produces, as is clearly explained in my. previous application, a constant interflow of the hydrocarbon liquid in the v aporizing chamber with the liquid in the 'storage chamber. The liquid in the `vaporizing chamber is, of course, heated and as it flows back into the storage chamber, it transmitsA heat to the stored body of liquid, whereby the stored liquid is maintained at a' temperature suiiicient to produce a pressure or-supply of vapor or gas above the stored body of liquid. This supply of gas above 4the liquid is utilized to' supply the demand to the engine, or other apparatus which is operated by the gas.

It has been found that so long as the apparatus is supplying a variable speed engine, which varies the demand for fuel, the interilow of heated liquid with the liquid in the chamber continues, whereby the vapor pressure above the stored liquid is maintained. However, when the apparatus is employed-withan engine or motor, which operates at a constant speed, such interilow of heated liquid does not. occur because the generated gas is entirely used bythe engine and there is never an excessive pressure within the vaporizing chamber, such excessive pressure being necessary .to force the heated liquid back into the liquid in the storage chamber. Therefore, when applied to a constant speed engine, the flow of liquid is in one direction only, from the storage chamber to the vaporizing chamber, and additional heat is y .is available at yall times to supply the demand under varying atmospheric conditions.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improvedapparatus, of the -character described, wherein the gaseous fluid or gas which is generated in the vaporizing chamber is introduced into the storage chamber to add heat vto the liquid within the chamber and thereby mainliquid.

A particular object of theinvention is to provide pressure actuated means for controlling the admittance ofv the generated gas to the storage chamber, whereby said gas is admitted as needed so as to maintain the vapor pressure within the tank at a predetermined pressure.

, Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of vaporizing hydrocarbon liquids which includes, confining a body cumulated gas is maintained at a predetermined point.

lA further .object ofthe invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the character described, having means for automatically reducing 4the applied heat when the pressure of the generated gas exceeds a predetermined point.

A construction designed -to c-arry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention-will be more readily understoodl from a readingx of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and

wherein:

Figure l is a perspective vention, for carrying out the 'improvedfmetjhod Figure 5 is aschematic or diagrammatica of the apparatus. e w; f

tain a vapor pressure above said stored body of of liquid whereby vaporization occurs to release view of a vaporizingv apparatus constructed in accordance with the in- Figure 2 is an enlarged view partlyin elevay. tion and partly in section of .thegcheck ,valve and It is pointed out that as used herein the term "gas" is intended to cover all products of vaporization of the hydrocarbon liquid which isused. In the drawings, the numeral I designates an `elongate tank or reservoir which is preferably `cylindrical in shape and which has its ends closed by cover plates and Il'. The tank or reservoir receives the liquid hydrocarbon whichis to ybe `vaporized and this liquid is preferably butane, or othervslmilar product which has a comparatively low boiling point. a storage chamber for the liquid.

` An outlet pipe I2 extends from the bottom of i the container and has its outer end-connected wlth an elongate, tubular housing or casing |3 lwhich forms a vaporizing chamber. The housing is shown as extending in parallel relation to `the reservoir and one end of said housing-is closed, while its opposite end is open and surrounded by an annular flange I4. Acircular closure plate l5 is bolted to the ilange and closes the open end of the housing and by removing said plate, access to the interior of the vaporizing a chamber, for cleaning, or other purposes, may be had. 'I'he liquid from the reservoir I0 may flow i into the elongate, tubular housing and such iiow may be controlled by a valve |2,.connected in the line i2. During normal operation, the valve is wide open so that an unrestricted ilow from the reservoir to the vaporizing chamber may occur.

For heating theliquid within the vaporizing chamber I3, a conduit or pipe I6 is disposed axially within the tubular chamber, extending throughout the length thereof. One end of the conduit is connected to an inlet pipe I1 which extends through the closed end of the vaporizing chamber, while its other end is connected to anf outlet I8, which passes through the closure plate l5. Both the inlet and outlet have connection with a boiler, or heating unit, |9, whereby a con- `stant circulation of hot water, or other heating medium, may be maintained through the axial conduit. The circulation of a heating medium through the-conduit heats the liquid within the vaporizing chamber and vaporizes said liquid to produce gas. l The vaporized products rise in the chamber `I3 and pass upwardly into a vertical riser pipe or stackl 20 extending upwardly from the tubular casing I3, which forms said -vapor'izing chamber. The riser pipe or stack 20 which has its lower fend communicating .with the tubular casing I3 forms a receiving chamber for receiving the vaporized products. The extreme upper end-of the riser pipe is closed and a lateral outlet pipe 2| has one end connected to the upperl portion o1' the riser. A control valve 22 is mounted in the outlet 2| and beyond said valve, a pressure regulator 23, of the usual construction, is connected in said outlet. .Manifestly, the-gas generated in the vaporizing chamberv I3, rises in the stand pipe 20 and ilows through the outlet I 2| and then through the regulator, wherein thepressure of said gas is regulated. From the regulator, the gas is conducted to the engine, or other within the elbow (Figure `2) and a valve their The reservoir thus forms 29 is arranged to seat on said seat, being conned and guided in its movement within a suitable valve cage 30. The valve disk comprises a check valve which upon upward movement, is unseated to permit a ilow from. the reservoir I0 tothe riser.

pipe or receiving chamber 20. Obviously, the disk is moved by the pressures on each side thereof and when the pressure in the riser, acting against the' upper surface oi' the disk, exceeds the pressure within the reservoir, the valve disk is seated i' to prevent communication between the riser and reservoir. A greater pressure in the reservoir, acting beneath the valve, will unseat the same to establish communication between the reservoir and riser. The weight of the valve disk is, of

, course, added to the pressure acting against the fill pipe Illa or in any other suitable manner.

` For the purposes of this description, butane will be used and it will be supposed that the atmospheric temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

When the liquid butane is introduced into the reservoir, the butane will ow through the pipe I2 and into the vaporizing chamber I3 and then into` the riser pipe 20, whereby the liquid level in the riser and reservoir will equalize as shown by the dotted linesin Figure 5. The -boiling point i of liquid butane is 33 degrees at atmospheric pressure and therefore, since the atmospheric temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the yspace A above the liquid level in the reservoir, as well as the space above the liquid in the riser 20, becomes filled with vaporized butane, or butane gas at 4a pressure oi' r12 pounds which is the .vapor pressure of 'butane at 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

So long as the temperature remains the same, no further vaporization takes place. It is pointed out that at this time, with the liquid levels in the reservoir and the riser pipe equal, there is an l equal gas pressure above and below the valve 29.

Due to the weight of this valve and the equal pressures on each side thereof, said valve is held closed.v

Assuming the feed line 24 to be connected with an internal combustion engine, which is to be operated by the gas generated by the apparatus, it will be manifest that when the engine is turned l over, the suction of its pistons will act through the pipe 24 and regulator 23, and also through the pipes 2| to draw gas from the interior of the 'riser pipe 2|). A supply of gas is always present in the upper portion of the riser pipe 20 above the liquid level and therefore no auxiliary heater need be applied to the system to generate gas before starting the engine. As soon as the engine is started, or as soon as a suction is applied to the pipe, 24, the gas supply in'the riser 20,is drawn therefrom. This immediately reduces the gas pressure within the riser and the liquid level in the riser rpipe 20 begins to rise, due to the weight of the body of liquidV and the vapor pressure within the reservoir Ill, which liquid and pressure fare acting on the liquid in the riser pipe through the pipe I2. Naturally, when the liquid within the pipe 20 rises, the liquid level within the reservoir I0 falls. By this time thev 'gas presure above the valve disk has decreasedcient to overcome this decreased pressure plus' the weight 'of the valve to raise said valve, thereby permitting the gas which is storedv above the vliquid level in the reservoir to be drawn through the conductor pipes 25 and 26, .into the upper portion of the riser pipe 20 and then to the pipes 2l and 24. From the pipe 24, this gas is, of

course, directed to the source of consumption.

It is pointed out that the weight and the lsize size of this valve, the Ilevel to which Ithe liquid in the riser 20 will rise, afterthe gas pressure thereabove is decreased and before the valve disk 29 is opened, may be positively controlled. The maintenance of a vapor pressure above atmospheric, within the reservoir provides a reserve gas supply which is available for use when the gas demand exceeds the capacity of the vaporizing unit. e f .r

As the gas is drawn oil from above the liquid level in the reservoir l0, more gas is automatically generated. As this vaporization continues, heat is` extracted from the body of liquid within the reservoir, thereby lowering the temperature of said liquid. Assuming thatfthe temperature was 60 degrees at the start, the increased vaporization would cause it to drop and when a temperature -falls to 55 degrees, for example, the vapor pressure would be nine pounds. Continued drop in the temperature of the liquid would cause a resultant drop in gas pressure accordingly and a pressure above atmospheric would be had up to the time when the liquid temperature would reach 33 degrees Fahrenheit at-which point th vapor pressure would be atmospheric.

However, in actual practice, the boiler or heating unit I9 is started at the'time that the gas is rst drawn from the riser pipe 20. By thetime the gas pressure within the reservoir I has fallen three pounds, or less, the heating unit has been operating suiciently long to heat the water circulating through the axial conduit l'within the vaporizing chamber I3. The circulation of this hot water through the vaporizing chamber immediately heats the liquid butane standing with- -in said chamber and immediately generates gas which rises within the pipe 20. As soon as this gas pressure within the pipe 20 equals the pressure above the liquid in the reservoir, the valve 29 is closed and the gas drawn from the pipe 2li is that generated in the `chamber i3. rlfhis valve remains closed until a condition again arises which reduces the pressure in the riser pipe 20. Such condition might occur if a sudden overload is placed on the engine (not shown) in which case the gas being generated would be insuiicient to supply the demand and gas from the reservoir would be used to automatically take care of the changed conditions.

When the circulation of hot Water through'the conduit I6 is first begun, it will be manifest that the. entire conduit is surrounded or submerged in the liquid within the vaporizing chamber. This is true because the liquid level is at the point A within the riser pipe 20. Obviously, since the entire surface of the conduit I6 is contacting the liquid butane standing in the vaporizing chamber, a relatively large amount of gas is generated. Assuming that a constant volume. q of gas is being drawn through the pipes 2| Aand' 24, it will be obvious that an excess gas pressure will bebuilt up in the riser pipe. In other words,

'l0 o f the valve disk 29 will control the r pressure 4 necessary to open the same, and by `varying the` more gas than is necessary for the demand is generated. This gas pressure which is built up 4in the pipe 20 acts downwardly on the liquid level in said pipe and naturally such gas pressure will exceed the pressure -ofthe gas which is trapped above the liquid level in the reservoir I0. 'I'h'e'refore, the gas pressure built up in the riser pipe 20 'will force the liquiddownwardly through said .pipe and back into the tank or reservoir -ill.

The level in the vaporizing chamber-will( be moved downwardly to a point B (Figure 4) where sufcient liquid is contacting the conduit I6 to generate sufllcient gas for the demand. This constant level in the vaporizing chamber will be determined by the demand or by the amount of gas withdrawn from the riser 20. So long`asY such demand remains constant, the liquid level in thevaporizing chamber will remain substantially constant and after this balanced condition is reached after the starting of the apparatus, said level will 'not vary materially. .l 4 vWith such arrangement, it will be manifest that the gas is generated in accordance with the demand and the ow of liquid butane is always l should drop, the liquid within said reservoir would be cooled. If this temperature should fall to a point below 33 degrees Fahrenheit, the con,

supply the demand and auxiliary heat would be necessary to restore the vapor pressure within said 'reservoir.

In order to maintain the Vapor pressureabove the liquid level in the reservoir or tank I0, a bypass line 3i has one end connected to the pipe or conductor 26 and its other endl connected to the pipe 25. A pressure-operated diaphragm valve 32 is connected to the by-pass 3l and controls the ow therethrough.l The valve includes a case or housing 33 having a diaphragm 3H extending transversely thereacross. A coiled spring 35 is located beneath the diaphragm Aand constantly urges the same upwardly. An adjusting screw 36 engages the lower end of the spring and by adjusting said screw, the tension on the spring may be varied. As is clearly shown in Figure 2, the upper end of the diaphragm is subjected to .the pressure within the pipe 25, which is the pressure within the tank il) above the liquid level.

An annular valve seat 31 is formed within the .jected to the pressure of the gas or vapor within the tank l0. The lower end of said diaphragm is engaged by the-coiled spring 35 whichis constantly( urging the diaphragm upwardly, whereby thesvalve member 38 will be moved from its seat' 31.l The valvemember is, of course, held in its closed or seated position by the pressure of the vapor within thereservoir I0. When the vapor pressure within said reservoir drops below a predetermined point, the spring 35 acting against the opposite or lower end of the diaphragm moves said diaphragm upwardly, whereby the valve member 38 is unseated to establish compass linev 3| and enter the interior of the reservoir ||I above the liquid therein.

Normally, the valve 32 is closed whereby a flow between the pipe 25 and the'pipe 26 is cut olf. The adjusting screw 36 is adjusted so as to place a proper tension on the spring 35. The apparatus is put into operation as has been described.- and so long 7 as the vapor pressure above the liquid level in the reservoir or tank l is suiilcent, so that vapor or gas is available at all times, the valve 32 remains closed. 'I'he valve disk 29 will, of course, be operated at the start, as has been explained, to permit gas to be drawn `from the reservoir. After the apparatus has been op: erating for some time and the liquid level in' the vaporizing chamber I3 has reached its standing level, sucient gas is generated in the riser pipe 20 to supply the demand. If for any reason, the vapor pressure within th'e reservoir l0 should fall below the pressure at which the valve 32 is set to open, the spring 35 will raise the diagram 34 and unseat the valve member 38. When this occurs, the gas from the riser 20 may pass through the pipe 26 and then through the by-pass 3| and into the pipe 25 from where it may enter the reservoir ||l above the liquid level therein. This gas contains within itself the latent heat of vaporization and would act to heat the liquid within the phragm downwardly. A coiled spring 58 engages the lowerend or underside of the diaphragm and resists its movement by the pressure within the vaporizing chamber.v An axial valve stem 49 ex-y tends downwardly from the Idiz'aphragin and has valve member 50 on its lower end. A-valve seat 5| is formed within a valve case 52 connected in the inlet line The spring 48 which engages the underside of the diaphragm is of such tension that, under normal conditions, the valve 50 is held open, whereby the hot water may circulate through the conduitl I6. In the event that an excessive pressure is built up within the'system, such pressure acts downwardly on the diaphragm 41 and moves the valve member 50 into engagement with its seat 5|, whereby the circulation of hot water through the conduit is shut off. 'I'he shutting off of the circulating hot wain the system to drop, as the withdrawal of gas reservoir suillciently to maintain the vapor pres-l f sure within the reservoir so that sufllcient gas is Iavailable at all times. Manifestly, by setting or adjusting the screw 36, the valve 32 may be set to open at any 'predetermined pressure, whereby it is possible to maintain the vapor pressure within the reservoir at a fixed and vpredetermined amount. By maintaining the vapor pressure in the reservoir, gas is available at all times and under varyingatmospheric temperatures and conditions, to supply the demand.

In the event that either the valve 29 or the valve 32 should fail fr any reason whatever, a communication betwen the pipe 20 and the reservoir I0 would be established. In such event, thepressures above the liquid in the vaporizing chamber and abovev the liquid in the reservoir would equalize, whereby the liquid in the pipe 2l) would seek the same level as the liquid in the reservoir I0. This would cause the liquid in the vaporizing chamber I3 to completely submerge the conduit 6 through which the hot water is circulated, whereby a greater amount of gas would, be generated. This increased amount of gas would exceed the demand, with the result that an increased gas pressure would be built up in the system. To prevent the building up of an excessive pressure, due tothe failure of either of the valves 29 o'r 32, a pipe45 has one end connected to the vaporizing chamber I3, while its other end is connected to the hot water inlet from the pipe 20 continues and as soon as such pressure returns to normal, the valve is again opened and the heating of the liquid within the vaporizing chamber is again started. Thus, it will be'seen that the valve 46 is a safety feature, which prevents the building up of an excessive pressure within the system. vThis valve operates only in the event that one of the valves 29 or 32 fails; otherwise, it is inactive an'd dormant.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A vaporizing apparatus for hydrocarbon liquids including, a reservoir for storing liquid and having a space above the liquid level forming a gas chamber for storing gas vaporized from the stored body of liquid, a vaporizing chamber connected with the reservoir Vso as to permit liquid from said reservoir to flow to the vaporizing chamber, a receiving chamber communicating with both the gas chamber and vaporizing chamber, means for controlling the supply of gas from the gas chamber of the reservoir to the receiving chamber by the pressure differential in said chambers,` and means for conducting gas from the receiving chamber into the gas chamber when the pressure in said gas chamber falls to a predetermined point, said last named means be'- ing unaffected by the pressure in the receiving chamber.

,2. A'vaporizing apparatus for hydrocarbon liquids including, a reservoir having liquid therein and having a space above the liquid level forming a gas chamberfor storing gas vaporized from the stored body of liquid, avaporizing chamber connected with the reservoir so as to'permit liquid from said reservoir to flow to the vaporizing chamber, a receiving chamber above the vaporizing chamber and communicating with the vaporcheck valve, and valve means in the by-pass line I and, arranged to be opened when the pressure in said gas chamber falls below a predetermined point to permit a ilow of gas from the receiving chamber to the gas chamber.

3. A vaporizing apparatus for hydrocarbon liquids including, a liquid reservoir having a space above the liquid level forming a gas chamber for storing gas vaporized from the stored body of liquid, a vaporizing chamber connected with the reservoir so as to vpermit liquid from said reservoir to ilow to the' vaporizing chamber, a receiving chamber above the vaporizing chamber and communicating with the vaporizing chamber, a conductor leading from the upper portion of the receiving chamber t'o the gas chamber, a check valve in the conductor operated by the differential in pressure between the receiv'ug chamber and the gas chamber for controlling the ow of gas from the gas chamber to the receiving chamber, a by-pass line connected in the conductor and by-passing the check valve, and a valve mounted in the by-pass line actuated by the pressure within the gas chamber and arranged to be opened to permit a flow from the receiving chamber to the gas chamber when the pressure in said gas chamber falls below a predetermined point.

4. A vaporizing apparatus for hydrocarbon liquids including, a reservoir having liquid therein and having a space above the liquid level forming a gas chamber for'storing gas vaporized from the stored body of liquid, a vaporizing chamber connected with the reservoir to permit liquid from said reservoir to ow to the vaporizing chamber, a receiving chamber above the vaporizing chamber and communicating with the vaporizing chamber, means for applying heat to the vaporizing chamber to vaporize the liquid therein and produce gas which flows into the receiving chamber, a conductor leading from the upper portion of the receivingchamber to the gasa' chamber, a check valve in the conductor operated by the differential in pressures between the receiving chamber and the gas chamber for controlling the flow from the gas chamber vto the receiving chamber, a by-pass line connected in the yconductor and by-passing the check valve, valve means in the by-pass` lineand arranged to be opened when the pressure in said gas chamber falls below a predetermined point to permit a flow of gas from the receiving chamber to the gas chamber, and means for automatically cutting oiI the applied heat when thepressure in the apparatus exceeds a predetermined pressure.

5. A vaporizing apparatus for hydrocarbon liquids including, a liquid rservoir having a space above the liquid level forming a gas chamber at its upper end, a tubular v aporizing chamber connected with 'thea'A lower end of said reservoir whereby liquid from the reservoir may ow into the vaporizing chamber, a stand pipe forming a receiving chamber extending upwardly from the vaporizing chamber and communicating therewith, an axial conduitextending through the vaporizing chamber, means for circulating a heating mediuml through the conduit to vaporize the liquid therein to produce gas which rises into the stand pipe, a conductor connecting the upper portion of the pipe with the gas chamber, means in the conductor for controlling the iiow from the gas chamber to the pipe, a bi1-pass line in the conductor by-passing the control means, and a valve in the by-pass line subjected to the pressure within the gas chamber for admitting gas vfrom the stand pipe to the gas chamber when lthe pressure in the chamber falls to a predeter-V mined point, whereby a desired pressure is main,- vtained in the gas chamber.

SAM JONES. 

